Apparatus for off-shore processing of a hydrocarbon stream

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for off-shore processing of a hydrocarbon stream, at least comprising: a jack-up platform; one or more jack-up legs rootable to a sea-bed; and one or more hydrocarbon stream processing units on the jack-up platform.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/029,694, filed on Feb. 19, 2008, which is incorporated herein byreference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to apparatus for off-shore processing of ahydrocarbon stream, optionally natural gas; a method of cooling,optionally liquefying, a hydrocarbon stream using such an apparatus;method of gasifying, optionally re-gasifying, a liquefied hydrocarbonstream using such an apparatus; a method of installing an apparatus foroff-shore processing a hydrocarbon stream; and a method of developing anoff-shore hydrocarbon stream processing facility.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Natural gas is a useful fuel source, as well as being a source ofvarious hydrocarbon compounds. It is often desirable to liquefy naturalgas in a liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant at or near the source of anatural gas stream.

LNG plants are traditionally ‘on-shore’ using an underground natural gasstream. However, some on-shore natural gas sources may not allowlocation and/or operation of a convenient on-shore production and/orliquefaction facility.

Some natural gas reserves are also ‘off-shore’, but many such reservesare considered too small or too marginal or too remote from existinginfrastructure to be developed economically.

‘Floating’ LNG vessels, often converted oil tankers, are known forproviding off-shore processing of off-shore natural gas streams, butfloating LNG tankers are still susceptible to the surrounding marineenvironment, especially wind and wave combinations, as well as requiringa mooring system.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,942,427 B1 describes a column-stabilised floatingstructure with telescopic keel tank for off-shore applications andmethod of installation. However, such a structure is still dependent onthe marine environment, i.e. the winds and the waves, and still requiresmooring.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An apparatus for off-shore processing of a hydrocarbon stream, at leastcomprising: a jack-up platform; one or more jack-up legs rootable to asea-bed; and one or more hydrocarbon stream processing units on thejack-up platform.

A method of cooling a hydrocarbon stream, comprising at least the stepsof: (i) providing a hydrocarbon stream to an off-shore processingapparatus that at least comprises: a jack-up platform; one or morejack-up legs rootable to a sea-bed; and one or more hydrocarbon streamprocessing units at least comprising one or more cooling units on thejack-up platform; and (ii) cooling the hydrocarbon stream.

A method of gasifying a liquefied hydrocarbon stream, comprising atleast the steps of: (i) providing a liquefied hydrocarbon stream tooff-shore processing apparatus that at least comprises: a jack-upplatform; one or more jack-up legs rootable to a sea-bed; and one ormore hydrocarbon stream processing units at least comprising one or moregasifying units on the jack-up platform; and (ii) gasifying theliquefied hydrocarbon stream.

A method of installing an apparatus for off-shore processing of ahydrocarbon stream, the method comprising at least the steps of:providing an apparatus at least comprising: a jack-up platform; one ormore jack-up legs rootable to a sea-bed; and one or more hydrocarbonstream processing units on the jack-up platform; transporting saidapparatus across a sea; locating the apparatus; rooting one or morejack-up legs of the apparatus with the sea-bed; and raising the jack-upplatform above sea level.

A method of developing an off-shore hydrocarbon stream processingfacility comprising at least the steps of: (a) installing an apparatusfor off-shore processing of a hydrocarbon stream, the installingcomprising: providing an apparatus at least comprising: a jack-upplatform; one or more jack-up legs rootable to a sea-bed; and one ormore hydrocarbon stream processing units on the jack-up platform;transporting said apparatus across a sea; locating the apparatus;rooting one or more jack-up legs of the apparatus with the sea-bed; andraising the jack-up platform above sea level; and (b) supplementingand/or replacing the apparatus by one or more further and/or otheroff-shore hydrocarbon installations, facilities and/or apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments and examples of the present invention will now be describedby way of example only and with reference to the accompanyingnon-limited drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a first diagrammatic side view of apparatus according to oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 2 a-e are diagrammatic side views of transportation andinstallation of apparatus shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is diagrammatic plan view of apparatus of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides apparatus for off-shore processing of ahydrocarbon stream such as natural gas which is rootable to a sea-bed toprovide stability to the jack-up platform in relation to the surroundingmarine environment, (except in extremis situations). This provides astable non-moving platform that can have a deck and support structurefor the one or more hydrocarbon stream processing units.

The present invention also provides apparatus which can providestability for one or more storage facilities such as LNG tanks, therebyreducing problematic sloshing of LNG in a floating storage facility.

The present invention can also provide a convenient import and/or exportterminal for a hydrocarbon stream. The present invention has theflexibility to comprise any suitable hydrocarbon processing units forany combination of processing, production, treating, liquefying,gasifying, etc of a hydrocarbon stream or streams supplied off-shore orfrom on-shore or both, as well as being adaptable to change itshydrocarbon processing units for one or more different operations in thesame or a different location.

The hydrocarbon stream may be any suitable gas stream to be processed,but is usually a natural gas stream obtained from natural gas orpetroleum reservoirs. As an alternative the natural gas stream may alsobe obtained from another source, also including a synthetic source suchas a Fischer-Tropsch process.

Usually the natural gas stream is comprised substantially of methane.Preferably the hydrocarbon feed stream comprises at least 50 mol %methane, more preferably at least 80 mol % methane.

Depending on the source, the natural gas may contain varying amounts ofhydrocarbons heavier than methane such as ethane, propane, butanes andpentanes, as well as some aromatic hydrocarbons. The composition variesdepending upon the type and location of the gas. Hydrocarbons heavierthan methane are generally removed from natural gas prior toliquefaction for several reasons, such as having different freezing orliquefaction temperatures that may cause them to block parts of amethane liquefaction plant. C2-4 hydrocarbons can be used as a source ofnatural gas liquids.

The natural gas stream may also contain non-hydrocarbons such as H₂O,N₂, CO₂, Hg, H₂S and other sulphur compounds. If desired, thehydrocarbon stream containing the natural gas may be pre-treated beforeinvolvement in a hydrocarbon cooling process, or before use elsewhereand/or separately. This pre-treatment may comprise reduction and/orremoval of non-hydrocarbons such as CO₂ and H₂S or other steps such asearly cooling, pre-pressurizing. As these steps are well known to theperson skilled in the art, their mechanisms are not further discussedhere.

Preferably, a hydrocarbon stream intended to be liquefied undergoes atleast the minimum pre-treatment required to subsequently liquefy thehydrocarbon stream. Such a requirement for liquefying natural gas isknown in the art.

A liquefied hydrocarbon stream intended to be gasified or regasified bythe present invention may be any suitable stream, usually LNG, forsubsequent use as a gas, either for supply to a particular user such asa power station or industrial facility, or piped to a gas network fordistribution. Such subsequent use is usually on-shore.

FIG. 1 shows a first diagrammatic side view of apparatus for on-shoreprocessing a hydrocarbon stream according to one embodiment of thepresent invention.

The apparatus 8 comprises a jack-up platform 10 comprising one or moredecks 32, and four jack-up legs 34.

A jack-up platform suitable for the present invention may have anynumber of jack-up legs, based on the stability and rigidity required,and the location of the apparatus. Commonly, a jack-up platform has asymmetrical number of jack-up legs, which may be an even number and/orevenly distributed around the circumference of the jack-up platformand/or extending through the jack-up platform.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the jack-up platform 10 isrectilinear, such as a square or a rectangle, and is attached to two tosix jack-up legs 34, preferably four jack-up legs 34, evenly located onopposite sides of the jack-up platform 10. Jack-up legs can have anysuitable construction, two known examples of which are cylindrical andtrussed.

The jack-up platform 10 may comprise one or more barges. A barge isgenerally a floating structure, commonly comprising steel and/orconcrete, and optionally having a relatively flat deck or deckingportion for the location of one or more processing units thereon.

A barge may also comprise one or more spaces or locations within itself,for the location of one or more other units or facilities, such as oneor more storage tanks, tanks for ballasting water, machinery etc.

One deck 32 of the jack-up platform 10 preferably provides the footprintand support for ‘topside’ production, processing and/or liquefactionfacilities for a hydrocarbon stream on one or more levels, as well asutilities equipment, offloading facilities, control instruments andliving quarters.

The jack-up platform 10 may have any suitable size, shape and design. Anexample of a rectangular jack-up platform can have a length of over 100m, a width of 50-100 m and a depth of 10-30 m.

The jack-up platform 10 can have a footprint of at least 1000-5000 m²,and can extend beyond 10,000 or 20,000 m².

The length of the jack-up legs 34 may be any suitable dimension whilststill providing stability and a raised-up platform 10 above a sea level52. The apparatus 8 may be used in seawater depths from as little as 5,10 or 20 metres, extending to sea depths of 80, 100, 150 or even 200metres. Any of these depths may also define the term “shallow water”,which is the usual location of use of the apparatus of the presentinvention. That is, the apparatus of the present invention may betransportable over any water or marine surface of minimal depth wherethe jack-up legs are raised, and then is usually located forinstallation and operation in shallow water.

The suitability of apparatus 8 of the present invention can bedetermined by analysis of the sea-bed 6, and the depth of water at therelevant operating location.

The or each jack-up leg 34 is preferably anchored, for example welded,to the jack-up platform 10. Each jack-up leg 34 preferably includes amovement mechanism. Preferably, the apparatus 8 also includes one ormore corresponding movement mechanisms, such as a jacking system knownin the art, able to move the or each jack-up leg 34 relative to thejack-up platform 10. Known jacking systems include the use of cables,hydraulic ram and pistons, and/or rack and pinion systems.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the or eachjack-up leg 34 is movable relative to the jack-up platform 10 between amarine-transportation position 36 and a sea-bed routed position 38. Thisis shown in more detail in FIGS. 2 a-d.

In FIGS. 2 a-c there is shown the jack-up legs 34 in amarine-transportation position 36, generally extending upwardly from thejack-up platform 10 during construction and transportation of theapparatus 8 from an on-shore location shown in FIG. 2 a to an operatinglocation shown in FIG. 2 c. At the operating position 36, the jack-uplegs 34 are moved downwardly to the sea-bed 6, and a portion of eachjack-up leg is insertable into the sea-bed 6 so as to be rootedtherewith, i.e. sufficiently fixed to the seabed 6. Preferably, eachjack-up leg 34 supports an equal load. The base of each jack-up leg 34may comprise a foot. Suitable feet include mats and spudcans 35. Matfootings are generally relatively flat, and are usually used to set up ajack-up leg in a soft soil area with a low-bearing capacity. Spudcanfeet 35 generally involve a tapered portion, better able to penetrate asea-bed, and/or accommodate uneven sea-beds.

With rooting of the jack-up legs 34 into the sea-bed 6, continuedrelative movement between the jack-up legs 34 and the jack-up platform10 provides raising of the jack-up platform 10 above sea level 52 to anoperating position 40, as shown in FIG. 2 e.

Thus, FIGS. 2 a-e show the general principles of installing apparatus asherein defined, comprising at least the steps of:

providing the apparatus 8;

transporting said apparatus 8 across a sea 54;

locating the apparatus 8 to a suitable operating location, such as nearto an underwater hydrocarbon stream source or on-shore connection (notshown);

rooting the jack-up legs 34 on the apparatus 8 with the sea-bed 6; and

raising the jack-up platform 10 above sea level 52.

Once installed, the apparatus can use one or more hydrocarbon streamprocessing units 12 on the jack-up platform 10.

FIG. 3 shows by way of example only and without limitation varioushydrocarbon stream processing units 12 that are locatable on and/or inand/or with the jack-up platform 10. Such processing units 12 can berelated or connected by a central pipework system or network 26.

Processing units 12 suitable for the present invention include anyhydrocarbon stream cooling and/or liquefying units, suitably located ina dedicated area 13 on the deck 32. They can include any number, typeand configuration of apparatus, devices, units and components able tocool and/or liquefy a hydrocarbon stream such as natural gas. Coolingand liquefying a hydrocarbon stream such as natural gas is known in theart, and is not further described here. Such apparatus may include oneor more heat exchangers, refrigerant circuits or systems, compressors,expanders, valves, separators, pumps, associated piping, etc, all ofwhich are known in the art, and which are not further described herein.

One or more of the hydrocarbon stream liquefying units 13 may beprovided in one or more liquefying trains in a manner known in the art,optionally running partly or wholly in parallel, also known in the art.

The or each hydrocarbon stream liquefying unit 13 may have any suitablecapacity, ranging from below 1 MTPA to above 1 MTPA, such as in therange 1-3 MTPA.

Power required for at least one of the hydrocarbon stream processingunits 12, such as a liquefying unit 13, includes one or more generators,turbines, etc known in the art, which are also locatable on and/in thejack-up platform 10, for example in a dedicated area 16 on the deck 32.One or more power generators such as gas turbines, steam turbines, areable to provide power to one or more units, facilities, devices, etc. onor in the apparatus 8.

The apparatus 8 may include one or more liquefied hydrocarbon storagefacilities 14, such as one or more LNG tanks, located on and/in thejack-up platform 10.

The one or more storage facilities 14 may have any capacity or volume,being above or below 10,000 m³, which is able to store a liquefiedhydrocarbon such as LNG, preferably at or near atmospheric pressure. Thevolume or capacity of the storage facilities may be related to the MTPAof the or each hydrocarbon stream liquefying unit on the jack-upplatform 10.

Alternatively and/or additionally, one or more separate storagefacilities (not shown) may be provided near the apparatus 8, such as oneor more associated an/or neighbouring floating storage facilities, suchas a floating LNG tanker.

The apparatus 8 may include one or more offloading areas 24, and one ormore liquefied hydrocarbon transfer devices 42 such as one or more knownoff-loading systems including a tandem soft yoke mooring and off-loading(SYMO) system. The apparatus 8 may also have side-by-side mooring, andone or more loading arms. The apparatus may also have one or moreboom-to-tanker (BTT) systems and/or one or more bug sweep systems, allof which are known in the art.

The or each liquefied hydrocarbon transfer device 42 may include one ormore flexible hoses or piping, intended to provide a continuous fluidpath between the apparatus 8, in particular one or more of any liquefiedhydrocarbon storage facilities 14, and a nearby vessel such as an LNGtanker (not shown).

The apparatus 8 preferably comprises one or more well productionfacilities. The apparatus may include a dry-well access 18 for gasproduction from one or more wells.

Any separation of water and/or condensate from a hydrocarbon stream canbe carried out by one more hydrocarbon stream treatment facilities, suchas: deep drying, mercury removal, acid gas removal, phase separators,CO2 removal. In addition, there may be one or more stabilization and/orfractionation processes such as for NGL recovery and stabilization of acrude stream such as crude oil, etc.

Processes and apparatus for such treatments are known in the art.Examples shown in FIG. 3 include a deep drying and Hg removal unit 20,and an acid gas removal unit 22.

The apparatus 8 of the present invention can be constructed and/orcompleted on-shore, or at least at or near a shore facility such as adock. One or more of the hydrocarbon stream processing units 12 could beassembled into suitably sized modules and/or on skids to facilitatetheir commissioning and/or installation and/or assembly with theapparatus 8.

For example, FIG. 2 a shows the apparatus 8 at an on-shore location 53next to a marine environment such as a sea 54. FIG. 2 b then shows theapparatus 8 re-located into the sea 54, such that it is in amarine-transportation position 36. FIG. 2 c shows the marinetransportation of the apparatus 8 using one or more tugs 56 in a mannerknown in the art.

Upon arrival at a suitable operating location or target site, such asnear an on-shore source, an on-shore supply line, or an underwaterhydrocarbon stream source (not shown), the jack-up platform 10 can beheld in position using anchored or free-running tugs, whilst the jack-uplegs 34 are lowered to the sea-bed 6 as described hereinabove. Once thebottoms of the jack-up legs 34 are rooted to the sea-bed 6 as describedhereinabove, and as shown in FIG. 2 d, the jack-up platform 10 can beraised to a jacked-up operating position 40 such that the jack-upplatform 10 is separate from the sea level 52, and is now prepared forone or more hydrocarbon stream processes.

The apparatus 8 of the present invention is relocatable, by reversingthe operations as described above in relation to FIGS. 2 e to 2 c, andusing one or more tugs 56 to relocate the apparatus 8 to a differenttarget site, such as near another underwater hydrocarbon stream source.

The apparatus 8 may include one or more ballast tanks, production andaccommodation facilities, and/or one or more hydrocarbon drillingfacilities 46, as well as other utilities and/or facilities usual,expected and/or required for a marine-environment location.

Hydrocarbon drilling facilities 46 provide a drilling functionality tothe apparatus of the present invention, which may be permanently ortemporarily a part of the apparatus, such as a conjoined unit. Thus, thepresent invention may also provide a hydrocarbon drilling operation, aswell as integral processing of the hydrocarbon stream on a stable butmarine-based platform.

It is a particular advantage of the present invention that the apparatuscan be rapidly transported/located/deployed/operated at a target site.In one way, the present invention provides a ‘turn-key’ apparatus readyfor installation and operation at short notice.

It is another advantage of the present invention that the apparatus canbe constructed and/or completed at a convenient location anywhere aroundthe world, generally at a convenient marine-connected location, and thentransported to the intended operating site. Such a convenientconstruction location can be remote from the operating site. Thisovercomes the problem of having to construct and/or complete thehydrocarbon processing apparatus, and/or any units, facilities, etc.,therefor at the intended operating site.

It is another advantage of the present invention that it is useable in anumber of different locations, such that it need not be redundant onceprocessing of a hydrocarbon stream at a particular location is no longerrequired.

It is another advantage of the present invention that it provides astable platform to which one or more further or other apparatus, units,installations and/or devices can be based and/or connected to. Thisincludes supplementing the apparatus of the present invention with oneor more floating, jack-up or more permanent apparatus, installations orfacilities where it is desired to increase the hydrocarbon processing.

The present invention also provides a suitable initial offshorehydrocarbon processing facility, which can be easily and rapidlyreplaced and/or superseded by one or more other offshore processingfacilities, being floating, jack-up and/or permanent, where a changed ordifferent operation (usually increased production) is desired.

In this way, the apparatus of the present invention provides an initiallocation and/or base from which development of the off-shore processingcan be considered, prior to committing and/or requiring furtherapparatus, etc. Such a situation may be due to the development of ahydrocarbon stream source over time, from an initial production volume,to a greater and/or more long term production volume requiring a morepermanent processing facility.

Thus, the present invention also provides a method of developing anoff-shore hydrocarbon stream processing facility comprising at leastinstalling apparatus as herein defined, and supplementing and/orreplacing the apparatus by one or more other installations. Such amethod provides a modular approach to the development of an off-shorehydrocarbon processing facility.

Where the apparatus comprises one or more hydrocarbon stream gasifyingor re-gasifying units, the apparatus operates as a liquid hydrocarbonimport terminal, able to be provided with a liquefied hydrocarbon suchas LNG, for example from a tanker, and to gasify or re-gasify theliquefied hydrocarbon off-shore. The gas can then be supplied to one ormore on-shore facilities such as one or more power generators and/orindustrial facilities and/or gas distribution networks and/or one ormore long distance supply pipelines.

The apparatus of the present invention preferably provides integratedproduction, liquefaction, storage and/or off-loading facilities for anatural gas stream. As a result, natural gas production and liquefactioncan be conducted simultaneously, which is important for fast-trackdevelopments without substantial pipeline cost. It also allowsproduction of a hydrocarbon stream directly from a source or sourcessuch as an undersea reservoir, and for liquefaction ready for export.

The apparatus of the present invention preferably also providesintegrated gasification and off-loading facilities for a liquefiedhydrocarbon stream such as LNG. As a result, natural gas regassificationcan be conducted for on-shore supply without requiring a fixed on-shorefacility.

The apparatus of the present invention preferably has a fixed,non-moving deck able to accommodate the processing facilities and aloading system; hence it is less sensitive to weather-imposed marine andoperational downtime than for example a floating solution.

The present invention can also allow dry-well access, eliminating theneed for a mooring system, and reduces the investment for subseainfrastructure. The present invention can also minimise offshoreinstallation and commissioning work, and could be built and integratedonshore as one complete unit before marine transportation andinstallation.

The apparatus of the present invention is preferably is self-installing,as a barge deck provides the necessary buoyancy during towage from siteto site offering minimal installation cost.

The present invention is preferably also entirely removable, making theenvironmental impact and abandonment cost minimal.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus essentiallyconsists of a floating steel barge that can be jacked-up out of thewater along four trussed legs. The deck of the barge accommodates thegas production and liquefaction equipment, utilities, power generationfacility, living quarters, as well as a tandem mooring and offloadingsystem. It can also house natural gas production wells and one or moreonboard liquefaction plants. The barge could also have an integratedmembrane LNG storage tank and it is intended to receive and berth LNGcarriers.

As a stand-alone solution, the present invention has embodiments toprovide integrated functions encompassing one or more of:

1) Well production: It can have dry access to gas production wells.Gas/liquid can be brought onboard via flow pipe and metered.

2) Gas reception: Gas, hydrocarbon liquids and corrosion inhibitorand/or any heavy liquid hydrocarbons can be separated. Liquid condensatestabilization and storage/offloading can be provided. Gas can bemetered. Optional feed gas compression could be made.

3) Feed Gas pre-treatment: Removal of CO₂, H₂S, water vapour, mercury,and heavy hydrocarbon can be implemented.

4) Liquefaction: Natural gas can be liquefied using any suitableprocess, for example, a so-called single mixed refrigerant process.

5) LNG storage: A membrane LNG tank or any other suitable LNG tank canbe housed within the barge.

6) LNG offloading: Transfer of LNG from the tank to an ocean-going LNGtanker can be made for example using tandem soft yoke mooring andoffloading (SYMO) system.

The present invention also extends to an apparatus for off-shoreprocessing a hydrocarbon stream such as natural gas, comprising ajack-up platform, one or more jack-up legs rootable to a sea-bed, andone or more hydrocarbon storage facilities such as LNG storage tanks.

1. An apparatus for off-shore processing of a hydrocarbon stream, atleast comprising: a jack-up platform; one or more jack-up legs rootableto a sea-bed; and one or more hydrocarbon stream processing units on thejack-up platform.
 2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein theone or more hydrocarbon stream processing units comprise one or morehydrocarbon stream liquefying units and/or one or more gasifying units.3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising one or moreliquefied hydrocarbon storage facilities.
 4. The apparatus as claimed inclaim 3, wherein the one or more storage facilities comprise one or moreLNG storage tanks.
 5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, furthercomprising one or more liquefied hydrocarbon transfer devices.
 6. Theapparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising one or more wellproduction facilities.
 7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, furthercomprising one or more hydrocarbon stream treatment facilities.
 8. Theapparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the jack-up platform comprisesone or more decks.
 9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein thejack-up platform comprises one or more barges.
 10. The apparatus asclaimed in claim 9, wherein the one or more barges comprise a deckingportion for the location of one or more of the one or more hydrocarbonstream processing units thereon.
 11. The apparatus as claimed in claim1, comprising two or more jack-up legs.
 12. The apparatus as claimed inclaim 1, comprising two to six jack-up legs.
 13. The apparatus asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the jack-up platform is movable between amarine-transportation position and a jacked-up operating position. 14.The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, comprising integrated production,liquefaction, storage and off-loading facilities for a natural gasstream.
 15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, being relocatable. 16.The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising one or morehydrocarbon drilling facilities.
 17. The apparatus as claimed in claim1, wherein the processing of the hydrocarbon stream comprises treatingand liquefying natural gas to provide liquefied natural gas.
 18. Theapparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processing of thehydrocarbon stream comprises gasifying a liquefied natural gas stream toprovide a natural gas stream.
 19. A method of cooling a hydrocarbonstream, comprising at least the steps of: (i) providing a hydrocarbonstream to an off-shore processing apparatus that at least comprises: ajack-up platform; one or more jack-up legs rootable to a sea-bed; andone or more hydrocarbon stream processing units at least comprising oneor more cooling units on the jack-up platform; and (ii) cooling thehydrocarbon stream.
 20. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein thehydrocarbon stream comprises natural gas.
 21. The method as claimed inclaim 19, wherein the cooling of the hydrocarbon stream comprisesliquefying the hydrocarbon stream.
 22. The method as claimed in claim19, for cooling and liquefying natural gas to provide liquefied naturalgas.
 23. A method of gasifying a liquefied hydrocarbon stream,comprising at least the steps of: (i) providing a liquefied hydrocarbonstream to off-shore processing apparatus that at least comprises: ajack-up platform; one or more jack-up legs rootable to a sea-bed; andone or more hydrocarbon stream processing units at least comprising oneor more gasifying units on the jack-up platform; and (ii) gasifying theliquefied hydrocarbon stream.
 24. The method of claim 23, wherein theliquefied hydrocarbon stream comprises liquefied natural gas.
 25. Themethod of claim 23, wherein the gasifying comprises re-gasifying.
 26. Amethod of installing an apparatus for off-shore processing of ahydrocarbon stream, the method comprising at least the steps of:providing an apparatus at least comprising: a jack-up platform; one ormore jack-up legs rootable to a sea-bed; and one or more hydrocarbonstream processing units on the jack-up platform; transporting saidapparatus across a sea; locating the apparatus; rooting one or morejack-up legs of the apparatus with the sea-bed; and raising the jack-upplatform above sea level.
 27. The method as claimed in claim 26, whereinthe apparatus is located in shallow water.
 28. The method as claimed inclaim 26, wherein the apparatus is located near an underwaterhydrocarbon stream source.
 29. The method as claimed in claim 26,wherein the apparatus is located in shallow water and located near anunderwater hydrocarbon stream source.
 30. A method of developing anoff-shore hydrocarbon stream processing facility comprising at least thesteps of: (a) installing an apparatus for off-shore processing of ahydrocarbon stream, the installing comprising: providing an apparatus atleast comprising: a jack-up platform; one or more jack-up legs rootableto a sea-bed; and one or more hydrocarbon stream processing units on thejack-up platform; transporting said apparatus across a sea; locating theapparatus; rooting one or more jack-up legs of the apparatus with thesea-bed; and raising the jack-up platform above sea level; and (b)supplementing and/or replacing the apparatus by one or more furtherand/or other off-shore hydrocarbon installations, facilities and/orapparatus.